HUMMINGBIRD SPECIES

Collared Inca

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Coeligena torquata

The Collared Inca is a common hummingbird species found in the humid forest of the Andean mountains.

It is a large hummingbird measuring 5.5 – 5.9 inches in length and weighs around 6.5 – 7.3 grams.

Adult males have blackish-green upperparts, greener on lower back. Tail is forked. Chin and throat are black, with green feather’s edges. They have a conspicuous broad white collar.

Lower breast and belly are blackish-green, but the undertail coverts are tinged green. Undertail shows dark bronze-green inner tail feathers.

Other rectrices are white with contrasting dark bronze-green tips of various sizes. Head is black with dark purple crown spot. The long black bill is straight.

Eyes are dark brown with white postocular spot. Legs and feet are pale pink with black claws.

Females lack the purple crown spot and their head is washed green. The glossy upperparts are golden-green. Chin is rather gray with some green edges.

They have broad white collar, but their belly is dark gray with some golden- green edges. Undertail coverts are gray- green edged white. Tail is less forked than in males.

Immature birds are similar to adult females, but the head feathers show buffy fringes.

Feeds on nectar from flowers and hawks or gleans arthropods from the vegetation.

Frequents humid and wet montane forest and shrubby forest borders, and can be seen from the understorey to the lower canopy.

It is usually found at 2200-3000 meters of elevation, but sometimes at 1500 meters, according to the season and the region.

Andes, from W Venezuela, through Colombia and Ecuador, to Peru.

The nest is made with plant fibers and the outer part is heavily decorated with moss and dead leaves of ferns.

It is situated on rock cliffs, hidden under ferns at about 1.50 to 2 meters above the ground.

The female lays 2 eggs.

SOURCES:
http://www.oiseaux-birds.com
https://en.wikipedia.org
https://ebird.org